Friction-clutch.



F.R;JONESQ EMOTION GLUTOH.

l APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 19M. RENEWBD AP'KB.. 4, 193.4. Y L 1&1 ggg Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

.5 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

Aitarney P. R. JONES. l

PRICTON CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 2 9, 19071 RBNEWED APR'. 4, 1914.44

Lllapw., `atentedmov.z4,1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WHA/55555 /8 Av1/EN TOR x11/orne] v FI R. JONES.

' FYRGTION CLUTCH. APPLUATION Pim-3D Amfzg, '1907. RBNBWBD APR. 4, 1914. 1,11 8,132.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914 5 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

WIN/5555 f@ `7 Mi/wml Ptented Nov. 24, 1914.

5 SHEETS -S H E E T 5.

Allafney 0 PQ f@ INVENTo/e Rl 4 Vm,

narran sirarns 1 rarnivr ernten.

-FOlRJItEST JONES, KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.'

EMOTION-CLUTCH.

Specification o Letters Patent.

Application led Apri1'29, 1907, Serial No. 370,846. Renewed April 4, 1914. Serial No. 823,708.

T0 all whom traag/'concern' Be it lrnown that I, Fonnns'r R. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and use-` or approximately parallel to the axial line of the clutch.

The object of the invention is to provide av clutch, the members of which engage each other frictionally to a chosen maximum when the clutch is not transmitting torqueeither when the'entire clutch is at rest or there is no resistance to the rotation ofthe driven parthand which engage each other1 less than said maximum after the applicaof power'or load.. It may be said that such au clutch highly sensitive and responsive to the application of a maximum torque. And itwill be observed that the frictional engagement is inverse to the torque, such enga gement being reduced when the torque becomes excessive. As will be made to appear more fully hereinafter, the apparatus may beso constructed as that the frictional engagement will begin to decrease immediately,

upon the application of the torque, or after an arbitrarily chosen measure of torque has been applied Or it may be said that the purpose of this arrangement is (l) to avoid applying the driving mechanism to a load too large for the strength of the rdriving mechanism, and to gradually overcome the inertia of a load small enough for,l said ,driving mechanism,in order that the strain due to torque resistance of the driven shaft shall remain within the capacity of the driving mechanism.

The improvement is specially applicable to machinery in which power is'to be frequently transmitted from parts rotating at high velocity to parts at rest-for example,v

to the driving mechanismof automobiles.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan ofa form of clutch embodying my improvement; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the right hand end of the clutch asshoWn in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the same clutch; Figs. f1 and 4a are sec' tional details of modifications of the structure illustrated by Fig. 3; Fig. 5 vis a sectional elevation of the clutch as shown in Fig. 3, exceptingthat the `two right hand, engaging faces ofthe clutchmembers are inclined or in the form of a' vtruncated cone; Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation similar to Figs.

3 and 5,y excepting that frictional engagement is made between a series of faces lying in planes to which the clutch 'axis is perpendicular; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6, looking toward the right, Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views illustrating a modified construction' for engagingl the inner friction plates of Figs. 6 and 7 with the driven shaft; Fig. 10 illustrates a construction like that illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7, excepting that the exterior portions of the frictionplates are inclined to the shaft axis and to 1 the plane to which the shaft is perpendicular; Fig. 11 is .a detail showing friction plates having annular V-shaped grooves whereby the engaging surfaces of said plates are'enlarged; Fig. 12 is a plan of the form of clutch illustrated by Fig. 1, with the addition of mechanism for manually releasing the clutch; Fig. 13 is a plan of the mechanism shown by Fig. 12; Fig. 14' is anielevation ofthe left hand end of the clutch as shown in Fig. 12; Fig. l5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the form of the clutch in which thefriction members are drawn` toward each other by expanding coiled springs acting in lines parallel to the clutch axis, other devices beingused for overcoming the action of said springs when the torque .transmitted approaches or reaches the chosen maximum. Said section is taken Y 15 of-.Fig.' 18; Fig. 16 is aA detail plan of the upper portion of the.

on the line 15 direction of the shaft; Fig. is a detail plan of a portion of the clutch showing a stop applied to one of the controlling blade springs, Fig. 21 is an.elevation of the same 'mechanism, looking rearward in Fig. 20;

. Fig; 22 is a detail elevation, 'looking toward the right in Fig. 15, of a modification ivhere? cured; Fig. QG illustrates a further modiiication, coiled springs being substituted for `the blade springs of the last preceding figures; F 27." is a side elevation of a. modification of the form of my device 1llustrated by Fig. 15; Fig. Q8 is a section on the line 28%28 of FigsZT and 29; Fig. 29 is a section on the line 21)-29 of Figs. 28 and y 81; Fig. 3Q is an elevation of the. right hand end of the structure shown in Fig. 29,

a. portion being broken away; Fig. 31v

is an elevation of the left hand end of the structure shown in Figs.` 27 and` Q9, portions being broken away; Fig. 32 is a section on the line- 32--532 of Figs. 27 and Q9, looking 'toivard the right; Fig. 33 Vis-a sectional detail of a clutclrdisengagingfde vice; Fig. 34 is a detail section on the lower portion of the line 2Q-'29 of 31, illustrating lan 'adjusting mechanism, Fig. 35 is a lsection on the line 35e-85 of Fig. SI1; Fig. Bois an elevation of the cam appearing in the adjacent portion of Fig. 311; Figs. 37 and 353 are, respectively, a side vieiv and an edge vienT of a combined key and nut-lock used inthe structure shown by Figs. 3/1 and 35; Fig, 39 is a detail plan of a modification of the yielding connection formed between the driving head and the driven member of the clutch; Fig. 10 is a section on the line L'iO-110 of Fig. 39,; Fig. 41 is an enlarged detail of the left hand end of Fig. 39.

`eterring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 1 is the driving shaft having the rigid head, 2, said head having a socket, 3. 4ifixially in line with said driving shaft, 1, is the driven f shaft, f1, having its left hand end extending into said socket, 3, iii the head, 2. immediately at the right of the head, 2, a member, 5, surrounds the shaft, 1, and lis secured to the latter in such manner as to preclude relative rotation betu'een said shaft and said member but to permit longitudinal more ment or sliding upon said shaft. 1n the form shown byA said Fi 1, 2, and 3, such. engagement is made by means of a key, G, seated in a recess, 7, in said shaft and ex the manner of applying theV tending loosely into a groove, 8in the in^ terior of the member, 5. rFhus said member,

, is adapted to be pressed endvvise against the rotating head, 2, and make frictional engagement with said head, 2, said frietional engagement tending to rotate said member,

and such rotation resulting in the rotation of' the shaft, 4. But, for the purposes of my improvement, said member, 5, is preferably so formed as to make a relatively small fi'ictional enga gement with either said head, i2, or the member, 10. The drawings 'show the former.- 'ln fact, said engagement may be reduced substantially tozero bv the reduction of the contact of one end or said member or by the interposition of antifric tion rollers, 9, as shown in Fig. 4l, or a single ball, 93, as shown in Fig. 1a.

At theright of the member, 5, another friction member, 10, surrounds thedriven shaft, 4:, without the interposition of a key or equivalent means for preventing therotation of said member independently of the rotation of the shaft. .find said'niember,

is provided with a relatively large frictioiial face, 11, and said member, "10, is provided with a corresponding frictional face, 12, said faces being in planes to which the axis of said shaft, 4, is perpendicular, and said faces being adapted to engage each other vwhen said member, 10, is drawn or pressed toivard the left.

rThe frictional engagement between the member, 5, and the head, 2, being less than the frictional engagement between said member, 5, and the member, 10, it foiloivs that the torque resistance is less at `the loft `hand or driving end of the member, 5, than at the right hand or'di'iven end of said member, and the object in providing such unequal frictional engagements is to produce such ditierence in torque resistance; and, as ivill appear more fully hereinafter, this is desirable to make my improrenient most effective. And to provide for the most sensitive control or regulation, the torque resistance at the left hand or driving end of the member, 5, should be reduced to :i minimum, so that the head, 2, will serve merely as an abutment for the member,

Un the head, 2, are tivo arms, 13, said arms being located at opposite sides of and ap proximately perpendicular to the axis ot said head; and on the'niember, 10, are tivo similar arms, 14: But the arms, 13 and 11, at the saine side of the axial line of the clutch do not stand opposite each other. On the contrary, a line drawn from one to the other is diagonal to said axial line, and a line drawn from the arni, 13, to the arm, 11i, oii'A 1 Ll C 14, extends a .blade spring, 5, the ends of said spring being in any suitable manner firmly secured to the adjacent arm. y 1n the form shown by the drawings, the springsf rest in slots, 16. Vith reference to the clutch considered as a whole, the left hand ends of sai-d springs are xed, while the right hand ends may be shifted laterally by bending or flexing the springs, which action will cause the member, 10, to rotate proportional to such bending or flexing of the springs, said member bcing,as above stated, free to rotate on the shaft, l.

The relative dimensions and arrangement of the parts are such as that the member, 10,

is noru'ially held or drawn against the mem? 2), the angle of the springs, 15,to the axial.,

line of the clutch is progressively (and minutely) reduced, whereby the distance between the head, 2, and the member, 10, is increased, or allowed to i-ncrease, or said mernber is drawn less forcibly toward the head,

Q, whereb the frictional en adement be-k Y g e tween the member, 10, and the member, 5, is positively reduced. And it is to be observed that such reduction of such frictional engagement is gradual or-progressive. It also to be observed that the bending or flexing of the springs, 15, when torque is applied to the shaft, 1, depends upon the torque resistance offered by the shaft,l 4; that the rotation 'of the member, 2, which carries the left hand ends of the springs, 15, is resisted by the member, 5, and the rota` tion of'the member, 5, is resisted by the shaft,-fl. v

In the form illustrated by Fig. 5, the construction is the same in all respects as in Fig. 2, excepting that the face, 11, of the member, 5, and the face, 1'2, of the member, 10, are inclined with reference to the clutch axis and with reference to a plane to Which the. clutch axis is perpendicular, so that said faces are conoidal.

In Figs. G and 7, the place of the member, 5, is taken `by a series of annular plates, 17, and a series of annular plates, 18, alternating with and overlapping the plates, 1T. The plates, 17, are free to slide lengthwise upon the shaft, l. but are held against rotation upon said shaft by means of a key, 19.

The annular plates,` 18, are surrounded by a cylindrical shell, 9.0, having on its inner face longitudinal ribs, 21, extending into notches, Q2. whereby said plates are permitted to slide longitudinally but are held against rotation independently of said cylindrical. shell.' Said shell is integral With the member, 10, a'nd the latter is-,engaged by the springs, 15, as described in connection with Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so that said shell.- must rotate in substantial unison with the shaft, 1, and head, 2, absolute unison of such rotation being lost lWhen there is a slight flexing of said springs, as described in connection With Figs. 1, 2, and Said springs draw said member, 10, aga-inst the first annular plate, 17, and the latter bears against the first annular plate, 18, andthe latter aga-inst the nextl annular plate, 17, and'so throughout the t'wo lseries of said"plates lthe last plate, 17, bearing against the head,

2,'by means of asleeve, 17H. Saidannular plates, 1,7, may be regarded Vas together constituting a multiple form of the member, g5, of Figs. 1, 3,-and 5; and said annular plates, 18, may be regardedas in the nature of duplications of the member, 10.

lVhen it is desiredto provide a stronger engagement between the shaft, et, and the annular plates, 17, while the channeling, and consequent weakening, of the shaft, l, are at the same time avoided, theform illustrated by Figs." 8 and 9 may be used. In

said form, the portion of the shaft, l, entering the clutch is approximately square'in cross-section, and surrounding saidl shaft isl a sleeve, Q3, fitted closely to said shaft and having four longitudinal radial ribs, 24, standing equi-distant from each other around said sleeve. The plates 17, are apertured centrally corresponding to the cross-section of said sleeve, notches, 2l, receiving the ribs,`2l, and the aperture being slight-ly larger than the cross-section of said sleeve, in order that said'plates may be free to slide longitudinally upon said sleeve. It will be observed that lthe relatively larger aperture in the plate, 1T, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, is not objectionable, for only the outer portion of the lateral faces of said plate make contact with the adjacent plates,

The springs, 15, and the fric-.tional member, 10, operate the same in the form shown in Figs: 6 and 7 as in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the bending of the springs, l5, toward a parallel with the axial line of the clutch having the effect of reducing the frictional engagement between the contacting faces of said'me'mber, 10, and the said annular plates,-

The form illustrated b v Fig. 10 is the same as the form illustrated by Fig. G, excepting that Ythe portions of the annular plates .which make frictional engagement with adiacent plates or the member. 1l). stand obliquely to the clutch axis and also to a plane to which said axis is perpendicular, this form, in'this respect, resembling the form illustrated by Fig. 5.

In Fig.' 11, the annular plates, 1T and 18,

shaft.

dit

have lf-sliaiipe grooves concentric wits the clutch axis, the grooved portion of each plate fitting into the grooved portion of the adjoining plate.

"ilith the clutch, made With variations as above described. may be applied mechanism for manually effecting disengagement of the friction surfaces, either totally or to such extentasl to suspend rotation of the driven @ne fform of such disengaging mechanism shor-fn in Figs. 12, 1?), anelli. On the shaft, 1, adjacent the head, Q, is a longitudinally slid-able member, having an annular groove, 2l?, and bearing arms, 27, -ivhich stand parallel to and opposite the arms, 13, on the head, From each arm, 27, a rigid arm, 2S, projects tou'ard the right approximately parallel tothe clutch axis `and extends through a sliding bearing,

21;), in the adjacent arm, 123 and extends beyond said bearing to approxiinately the middle of the adjacent spi-ing 15, and there touches or almost touches l spring. For the purpose of reducing friction during the movement to be. hereinafter described, said end of said arm is preferably provided with an anti-friction roller, SO, arranged to bear upon said spring. Upon any relatively stationary member, 31, is pivoted a leser, 332, which has arms, extending to opposite sides of the groove, QG, and engaging studs, Sil, on a collar, 25a, resting loosely in saidI groove, QG. By moving the free end of said lever tou'ard the left, as viewed in l Fig. 12,.the member, 25, is forced toward the right. the arms, 28, sliding through the bearings, 29, and cach roller, 30, being made to bear against the adjacent spring, 15, so that the righnhaiid end of cach such spring is moved toward a lino cutting the opposite end of the spring and lying parallel to the clutch axis, whereby thev friction member, 10, is moved away from the head, Q, and the engagement between said meinber, 10, and the member, and between the latter and the head, 2, destroyed. After the clutch has been thus released. `the lever, -inay be secured in any suitable manner, as by nie-ans of a hook, hinged at to a relatively stationary part of the apparatus.

ln the forms of the apparatus thus far descrilfieiil, the friction members of the clutch are draivn against each other by the loss of distance between the head, 2, anl the nie-rubin', lOv due tothe bending or flexing of tac springsl. A form will next be described in which annular plates, 1T and 1S,

are drawn toward the member, A14) by means of expanding coil it springs acting in lines parallel tothe clutch axis, and the action of such springs is, by means to be herein after described. opposed and, u'hen the maxiinum torque. is transmitted, overcome to such ext-ent as tc allow the friction members to slip upon each other. Said form is illus- 'stands nearly opposite said arm, 14..

tratcd by Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. lin this form the driving shaft, 1, driving head, L, cavity, 3, in the driving head, driven shaft, lle, and friction member, 10, are pres' cnt as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and in Figs. 6 and 7, and annular friction plates, 1T, and 18, surround the shaft, 1, in Figs. 6 and T, the plates, 1i', being longitudinally slidable and non-rotatable on said shaft and 'the plates, 18, being lsurrounded by a cylinhead, 3?, extends across the left hand end of the shell, .90, and bears against the head,

2, so tliatfsaid hcarh., forms an abutment for the shell, Q0, and the member, 10. (Said member, 10, is held against riglituard movenient by means of cams, L13, and rollers, 16, described beloiinrlf'hree bolts, 38, placed parallel to the clutch axis and equi-distant from said 'axis and from each other extend loosely through the annu ar plates, 18, and the member, 10, and project to the right of the latter far enough to be surrounded by an expanding coiled spring, it the right of said coiled spring is a Washer, 10, forming an abutment for said spring and at the right of said washer is a nut, ell, for holding said washer in position. The expansive force of said springs may be varied by shifting said, nut and Washer upon said bolt. Said expansire force, must be suliicient to draiv vthe annular plates, 17 and. .18, gainst each other and the right hand plate, 17, against the member, 10, with sul'licient force to effect such a maximum frictional engagement as may be desired.

To oppose the coiled springs, 39, in the performance of their function of drawing the plates, 17 and 1S, and the member, 10, against each'v other, the following devices .are employed: A blade spring, 412, resemblin i the sirinos. 15. in lfiOs. l 2 and 3. A :n c. f c i i is secured by its right hand end to an arm, lll, on the member, 10, and extends thence iisv toivard the left, -in a direction substantially parallel to theclutch axis, into the path of the adjacent arm, 13, which, in this case, The arm, 1?, at the opposite side of the head2, is somewhat shortened and bears on itsleft hand face a cam, 43. From the adjacent edge of the nearest annular plate.` 1 8, a rigid arm, 44:, extends toward the left approximately parallel to the clutch axis and through an opening, 3T, in the head, 53T, and beyond the adjacent end of the arm, 13, far enough to support a stud, l5, upon which rests an anti-friction roller, 1G, ivhich Vvbears upon the face of the ca1n,"l3, the re mally place the lowest portion of said ca m beneath said roller.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that when said cam is forced laterally ,so as to bring its higher part beneath the roller, 46, said roller will be forced toward theleft, and, since the stud, 45, the arm, 44, and the left hand plate, 18, are rigid with each other, said stud, arm, and plate will be drawn toward the left in opposition to the coiled spring, 39, wherebythe frictional engagement between ther annular plates, 17 and 18, and the member, V"10, will be reduced. The same result is reached if the roller, 46, isfor'ced laterally so as to rest upon theA higher portion of said cam.4 This can be done by a partial rotation of the member, 10 (including, of course, the cylindrical shell, 2O,It and the` annular plates, 17 and 1S). And the same result may be reached by simultaneously rotatingthe head, 2, in one direction and the member, 10, and its associated parts in the opposite direction.

It will be Aobserved that (ignoring the frictional engagement between the heads, 2 and 37, and of the shaft, 4, in the socket, 3) torque is transmitted from the shaft, 1, tothe member, 10, only through the blade springs, 42, and the arms, 44. The measure or degree of torque transmitted is limited tothe strength of the springs, 42, plus the element of frictional resistance between the arm, 13, andthe arm, 14. In theapplication of torque through the shaft, 1, the lateral strain upon the blade springs, 42, by the arms, 13, causes said springs to yield laterally and allow the driven portion of the clutch (the member, 10, and shell, 20) to lag with reference to the driving portion (the shaft, 1, head, 2, and arms, 13), and the arms, 44, and rollersI` 46, lag in unison with the member, 10, and shell, 20, the rollbeing 'thereby forced upon the higher portion of the cams, 43, and such action forces the adjacent plate, 18, toward the left in opposition to the coiled springs, 39, as above described.

in 2O and 21, a stop, 47, extends from-the head, 37, at the side of the spring, adjacent the arm, 13, toward said arm and forms an abutment to prevent movement of the free end of said spring in the direction of said arm. )When such stop is used, the spring may be set to bear with any chosen degree of force against said stop, so that the spring will not vield to the arm, 13, until the load on the driven member equals thel resistance to which the spring is set. rEhe clutch illustrated by Figs. 15, 16, 17, 13, 19, 20, 21, 24, and 26, is adapted to transmit torque in only one direction-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 17; but said clutch may-be so modiied as to adapt it to the transmission of torque in-either direction. (And it is to be observed that the member, 10, might be chosen as the driving member, in which case the direction of transmission of torque would be reversed.) ASuch a modification adapting the clutch to transmit torque in either direction from the head, 2, (or the member, 10.) is illustrated by F 22 and 23. In said figures, each arm, 13,'has at its outer end a notch, 48, into which the spring, 42, extends, so that the arms, 13, will be resisted by said spring, whether said arms be moving in one direction or the other; and the cam, 43, has two high portions and' an intermediate low portion, so that the roller, 46, will normally rest inv said lower portion and will be forced upon a high portion when the arm, 13, bearing said cam' is moved in either direction. l

The form illustrated by F 15, 16, 17 and 19 may also be modified by securing the springs, 42, rigidly to the adjacent arms, 13, andleavingthe opposite ends of said springs in freeeengagement with the arms, 14, of the member, 10, Such a form is illustrated by Fig. 24.

A further modification is shown in F ig. 25, it being understood that the springs, 39, cams, 43, and rollers, 46, are to be used as 1n Figs 15 and 17. In that` form, ythe springs, 42, are secured to the arms, 13,

l and also to the arms, 14, in the manner illustrated for one end only in Figs. 16 and 24. In such form, the iexing of the springs, 42, upon the' application of torque causes a slight drawing of the member, 10, toward the head, 2; but this is soslight in comparison with the action of the cam, 43, upon the roller, 46, as to be immaterial. And for still another form (shown in Fig. 26) each arm, 13, may have a finger, 49,-extending across the perimeter of the shell, 20, toward the opposite arm, 14, and each arm, 14, may have a similar finger, 50,' extending toward the opposite arm, 13, and be separated from the adjacent finger, 49, by an intervening coiled` or other form of spring, 51. A bolt, 52, extends loosely through said lingers, 49 and 50, and bears at one end a nut, 53. Said bolt and nut constitute an adjustable means for limiting the distance. between said fingers, for, the setting or' the springs to a' chosen resistance and to prevent undue rotation or springing forward of the driven portion of the clutch upon a sudden removal of load.

The form illustrated by yl? igs. 27 to 38, inclusive, embodies several features not shown by the preceding figures. @ne of these is the combination of the arms, 44, of Figs. 15 and 17 withthe bolts, 38, of said figures. Another of said features is mechanism for adjustably lsecuring the arms, 44, (or the combined arms, 44, and bolts, 33) to the left hand annular plate, 1S,\while the right holding the coiled springs, 39.

35 tion in either direction,

Vscribed in connection with Figs. 22 and @3 iigures only two pairs of such springs are usednot three as in the preceding figures) The purpose ot this arrangen'ient is to maire the clutch more compact. Another of said Afeatures is the omission ot the ribs, 21, ot

previous forms and usingthree bolts, Q1,

to bind the head, 8T, to the shell, 20, and guide the annular plates, 18. Another ot said Yfeatures is the making of the head,` 2, separate from the shaft, 1and securing 2O these parts iiiimovably tol each other by means o-i" a key, :2a. rilie last of said tetu tures isy mechanism for either manually or automatically positively disengaging the clutch.

Rit opposite sides ot the clutch airis are locatedtivo arms, 14, on the member, 10, but said arms extend toward the right, ,instead of radially, and to each side of each oit said arms are bolted blade springs, 12.

rlfhe opposite ends of said springs stand at opposite sides oit an arm, 18, on the head, 2, and o-n the head, ST, a stop, 17, rises between said springs. This arrangement of said springs and stops adapts the clutch for ae- Y as has been deor either member of the clutch may be treated as the driving1 memberand if the clutch is to be used Jfor operation of the shai't, 1, irst in one direction and then in ,the other, one spring may be set for releas` ine under one stress and the other under a' higher or lower stress.

is above indicated, the bolts, 38, and the arms, 44C, are formed integral, and these combined members extend through nonthreaded bearings, 511, in the lett hand plate, 1S, said plate being secured to said combined member so as to partake of the movenient or" the latter vvhen the head, 2, turns with reference to the member, 10, shell, 20, and said plate, 18, and forces the rollers, 46, beneath the cams, 413, said rollers and said cams beine: transposed with reference to their positions in Figs. 15 and 17. The

drawino shoiv said combined members adjustably wiiied in said bearings, 5d. The details 'for etiectinp; such adliustment are illustrated by Figs. Se to 38, inclusive. Each such combined member, 4111-38, is screvvthreaded within said bearing, 541, the bearing beine7 large enough to permit said niember to slide 'lreely Within said bearing. At the lett of said bearing a nut, 55, surrounds 'be adjusted the member, MFEBS,

l miens?,

the threaded portion of said member, ele-38, and bears against the adjacent tace of said plate, 18. Said nut serves to hold said inein ber, '4r-33, against vthe expansive stress of the springs To prevent the rotation ot the arm, de. and the cam, 4:3, a key, 56, is seated in a oove, 57, inthe member, L1er-38, and a corresponding' groove, 5S, in the bearing, The same lrey is made to serve as a loclr 'for theI nut, 55. For this purpose said hey extends radially aivav from the member, Llei-3S, in a radial groove, and then extends left vard yinto one of several radial notches, 50, in the nut, 55. lVhcn the roller, 46', iiforces the member, L11-38, toward the left, the range 'of such movement is only suilicient to lreduce pressure between the plates, 18 and'17, and the member, 10, and said plates and member are not actually separated from each other, and the nut, 55, is therefore not-moved away from the adjacent plate, 1S, tar enough to disengage the key, 56, from said nut.` 1n other Words, said nut remains in Contact with said face of said plate, 1S. But when the nut, 55, is to is forcibly moved toward the left tar enough to move the nut out o1' engagement with the lreyl and permit the rotation of said nut to any desired eXteiit-1ironi onenotch to the next adjacent notch or farther. Then the mein ber, 14T-38, is allowed to be draivn toward the right until the nut is again in its normal position, the key, 5G, a gain entering one ot' the notches, 60.

T he mechanism for disengaging the clutch will be next described. )n the left hand .portion et the head, 2, are three radial and equi-distant lugs, 61; and to each sideot each ot said lugs is coupled a linlr, 62, l means ot a bolt or shaft, 63. (See Figs. 27, Q9 and 31'.) T he opposite ends of sri id links are `coupled to the lett hand end oi an arm, (55,*by means of a bolt or shaft, @-1. The

opposite end of' said arm has a spheroidal head, .66, engaged in a socket, (37, in the lett hand plate.` 18. lt vvvill be seen that the movement otsaid arms, 65, toward the lett will cause tlievnioveinent ot said annular' plate, 18, toward the lett so as to effect disengagement between theplates, 18 and 17, and the member, 10. said arms, 65, a spider, 68, surrounds the shaft, 1, at the loilt of the head, 2, and is secured to said shaft by a longitudinal key, 69, permitting said spider `to slide longitudinally upon said shaft, but preventing; rota tion independently oit said shaft. d Each spider arm, 70, has a lug, 71, extending toward the clutch axis immediately .at the right ot a corresponding` lug, 77?, rising from the lett hand end of the arm, 65. Moving said spider toivard the left will cause the lugs, 71, to press `againstthe lugs, 72, and

iis

For the shifting;` ot

.proportions of the parts are such asthat when the arm` 65, has been drawn to its limit ,to the left, the lug, 7l, of the spider will slip into position. upon the lug` 72; and in such position the arm,` G5, is held or `locked immovably. F or the link, 62, then 'leans to.- ward ihe left and is held by the lug, 7l, against upward and rightward movement. IVhaterer form of mechanism may be used, as above suggested, to shift the spiderl should be adapted to secure the spider in the abovedescribed position. f

Still another form of mechanism for producing a yielding or elastic engagement between the driving and the drivenportions of the clutch, tending to compel rotation of said portions iuunison, is shown in Figs. 39 and l0. The cylindrical shell, 20,`is extended leftiyard beyond the arms,'13, and the head. 2, and is secured by means of screu-bolts,-T3, to a head, 7l, loosely surroun/,ling` the shaft, l. Opposite cach arm, 13, said head, Ti, bears a Wrist-pin, 75, Which is radial to the shaft, l, and extends through a bearing, 7G, in an arm, 77, which is normally parallel to the clutch axis and extends almost to the opposite arm, 14. To each` side of said arm, T7, are secured` blade springs, 4Q, by means of a rivet or bolt, 78. Said springs extend beyond the free end of said arm, '77, and the arm, 14e. At th'e right of the Wrist-pin, 75, said arm, 77, has asoclet. 79, Which is approXimatelyradial to the clutch axis and has sides parallel to said aXis. lllithin said socket and resting against said sides are slide blocks, S0. On the adjacent arm. 18, (which extends through 'a relatively large opening, 8l, in-the shell,` 2b) is a spherical or spheroidal head, 82,

resting betu'een said slide blocks and eX- tending into cavities, S3. Then torque is applied to the shaft, l, the arm, l, presses laterally on the arm, TT, tending to turn said arm on the `Wrist-pin, 75, and flexing the blade springs the side of the arm, 7T, from which the free end of the arm, 7T, tends to move, said spring bearing against the arm adjacent the face of the arm, let.

I claim as my invention:

l. ln a friction clutch, the combination with friction members, of turning force transmitting mechanism for producingzanv transmitting mechanism for producing a chosen maximum engagement between said members u'hcnthe clutch is idle an diminished engagement when torque is a1,- plied, substantially as described.

3. In a friction clutch, the combination with friction-members, of turning force transmitting mechanism for producing an engagement between said frictional members diminishing 'ith theincreise f torque applied, such diminishing being approximately proportional to the increase of torque, substantially described.

4. In a. friction clutch, the combination with friction members, of elastic turning force transmitting mechanism normally pressing said members into engagement with each otherto a degree groei i than required for the torque transmitted and diminishing such pressure when the n'iaXiinum torque is transmitted, substantially as described.

5. In a friction clutch, the combination with friction members, of elastic turning force transmitting mechanism normally acting upon said friction members to hold them against each other with a pressure effecting an engagement between said members above. a chosen maximum, said elastic inechanisni being acted upon by thU turning force in opposition to said action upon said friction members, so that upon thel application of a. chosen maximum torque' the engagement of said frietionmembers is reduced to such extent that. said members slide over each other and prevent further' increase of the torque transmitted, substantially as Adcscribed.

G. In a friction clutch, the comliination With the driving and driven friction-al members, of'elastic turning force transmitting mechanism acting obliquely for yieldingly engaging said frietional members, substantially as described. l

'i'. In a friction clutch, the combination with a driving shaft, a head' on said shaft, a driven shaft, a member. 5, slidable and non-rotatable upon the dri veu shaft, a meinber, l0, loosely surrounding the driven shaft, of elastic mechanism upon which the turning force acts and Whose capacity for resistance to said turning orco the measare' of the maximum toroue that the clutch iyill transmit, substantially'as described.

S. In a friction clutch. the combination with a driving shaft, a head on said shaft, a` driven shaft. a niemb r slidable and non-rotatable upon the dri-veu shaft, a. member, l0. loosely surrounding the driven shaft, of elastic mechanism acting obliuuely for yieldingly engaging the friction members of the clutch, substantially as described.

9. In a friction clutch, the combination with. a driving shaft, a head on said shaft,

a driven shaft, a member, l0, a member, 5, slidable and non-rotatable upon the driven shaft, of elastic, obliquely-acting` mechanism interveningbetiveen said head and said member, l0, substantially as described.

10. ln a 'friction clutch, the combination u'ith a dri Ying shaft, 'a head on said shaft, a driven shaft, a, member, slidable and nonofotatablc upon the driven shaft, a inembei, l0, loosely surrounding the driven shaft, of obliqiiely-acting springs intervening between said head and said member, lO, siibstanti ally as described.

l1. ln a friction "clutch, the combinationivith a driving shaft, a head on said shaft, a driven shaft, a member, 5, slidable and iioir'iotatable upon the driven shaft, a inember, l0, loosely surrounding the driven shaft, of obliquely-acting springs 'joined` to said head and said member, l0, substantially as described; i

l2. ln a friction clutch, the combination with a driving shaft, a head on said shaft,

a driven'V shaft, a member, l0, loosely surrounding' the driven shaft, a member, 5, slidahle and non-rotatable on the driven shaft between said member, l0, and said head and arranged for making' greater engagement at one end than at the other end, of `elastic mechanism uponii'hich the turningforce acts and ivhose capacity of resistance to said turning force isthe measure of the magimum torque that the clutch will transmit,'substantially as described.

i3. ln a friction clutch, the combination 'with a driving shaft, 'a head. on said shaft, :i dri ven shaft, a member, l0, loosely surrounilii'ig the'driven shaft, a member, 5, slidable and non-rotatable on the driven shaft between said member, l0, and said head and arranged `for making greater .frici tional engagement viitli said member, l0, than ivitli said head, \of lelastic mechanism" upon which the turningy force acts and u'hose capacity of resistance to said turning loiceis the measure of the maximum torque that the clutch Will transmit, substantially as desired.

il. lii a friction clutch, the combination with a driving shaft, a head on said shaft, a driven shaft, a member, lil, loosely surrounding'v the driven shaft, a member, 5, slidable and non-rotatable on the driven shaft between said member, l0, and said h. id and arranged 'for making-greater en- `n'aerinent at one end than at the other end, of iibliiiue springs secured to said headand said member, l0, substantially as described.

l5. The combination with the friction members of :i clutch, of spring-mounts and tori,uetransmitting springs set in said mounts to permanently press the 'friction members together, the increased deflection of said springs by the torque transmitted :elle

th'e friction members slip over ,isa

thr ugh them being such as to directly decrease the pressure `between the 'friction members to such an eXtenttliat the friction membei's slip ictatively over cach other `while continuously tiai'ismitting` a predetermined amountJ of torque.

1G. rlie combination with the friction vmembers ofa clutch, of spring-mounts and torqiie-transmitting springs set to press the friction members together, the increased de` flection of said. springs by torque transmitted through them being such as to act directly` on one of said spifinganounts to give the mount a compound rotative and longitudinal movement relative to the other mount to decrease the pressure between the friction members to such an extent tliatthe friction members slip over each otherwhile continuously transmitting a predetermine amount of torque. i

l?. The combination with the friction members of a clutch, of spring-mounts and blade springs set yto press the friction inembers together, the increased deflection of said rsprings by torque transmitted through them being' sucli'as to'act directly to give one of the spi 'iiig-inouiits a compound rotative and longitudinal movement' relative to the other mount to decrease the pressure between the friction members to such an eX- tent that the 'friction members slip over each )ther while continuously transmitting a predetermined amount of' torque.

1S. rllie combination With the friction members of a clutch, of a driving spring;-

lcction of said sirinOs o torue trans initted through them being such as to dirrectly move one spring-mount relative to the other to decrease the pressure between. the friction members to such an extent that each other ii'h'ile continuously transmitting` a predetermined amount of torque.

19. The combination with the friction members of 1i. clutch, of elastic mechanism which presses the friction members together and also transmits torque in such a manner that .theincreased deflection of said elastic mechanism due to the transmitted torque directly and positively reduces the pressure between the friction members to such an eX- tent that the friction members slip over each other while continuously transmittinga pi'ei'letermined amount of torque.

:20. The combination with the friction members of a clutch, of elastic mechanism 7which presses the friction members together and also transmits and is deflected by thc torque, said deflection being,` such as to directly and positively reduce the pressure mieles @D between the friction members to such an name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 25th extent that the friction members slip over day of April, in the year one thousand nine euch other While continuously transmitting hundred and seven.

:L predetermined amount of torque, and of F-ORREST R. JUNES. 5 means for disengaging said frietionmem- Witnesses:

bers. EDWARD HACKER,

In testimony whereof I have signed 'my CYRUS. KEHR. 

